A 20-year-old Guatemalan migrant faces grave accusations of third-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter in Chester County, Pennsylvania, following the tragic death of a 21-month-old boy under his care.
A Guatemalan migrant is now accused of murdering a 21-month-old boy in Chester County, Pennsylvania.
Enrique Lopez Gomez, a 20-year-old migrant from Guatemala, was arrested and charged last week with third-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter in the death of 21-month-old Anilson Mauricio Perez Gomez.
According to the Chester County District Attorney’s Office, on June 24, Lopez Gomez was watching Anilson when he struck him in the abdomen. The child’s mother later picked him up and brought him to her sister’s house, where Anilson became unconscious.
Lopez Gomez arrived at the residence and performed a Guatemalan healing ritual on Anilson before leaving. The child’s uncle eventually called 911. When police arrived, Anilson had been wrapped in a blanket, had no pulse, and had white foam coming from his mouth.
Anilson died after being taken to a nearby children’s hospital. His autopsy revealed that he had died from blunt force trauma to the abdomen.
“[Lopez Gomez] brutally injured a toddler under his care, failed to get the child medical care, and caused his death,” Chester County District Attorney Christopher de Barrena-Sarobe said in a statement.
“Mr. [Lopez Gomez] struck that child in the abdomen area at least once, did not get medical care for that child, and eventually the child died,” Barrena-Sarobe added.
The child’s aunt mentioned that Anilson and his mother had only lived in Chester County for less than a year and believed Lopez Gomez was a responsible adult. She said Lopez Gomez had lived in the area for roughly five years.
Lopez Gomez remains in police custody on $10 million bail. The investigation into the murder is ongoing. The Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency has placed a detainer on Lopez Gomez, requesting custody of him if he is released at any time.
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